Electric signaling system.



No- 826,457. PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

FRBDERIGKSON. ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM.

J F. WEBB 8: U.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV.1, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l fiede rial son 'NO. 826,457. PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

I (I. I. WEBB ,& G. B. I'REDERIOKSON;

ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 1, 1905.

. I W hula l H i in; mm m n W w W a J N w/mEssEs ATTORNEYS PATENTED JULY 17, 1996.

J. F. WEBB & C. B. FREDERIGKSON. ELEGTRIG SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

'Am; M1217 INVENTORS J an F. Wei 6 C2 ayton E Wederzcison I By V WWNErs, I

PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

J. F. WEBB & G. E. FREDERIOKSON.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

INSULATION an 50 v W/TIVES8E8. v INVENTORS Jazr- FY7263 Cl i 71, lg fr aeriokso ATTORNEYS v Initted from a central station to any par ments whereby semaphore-s1 als and tele- 2 5 mit signaling between the central station and 3SWl1i0h will be first described in detail and U NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. 1 JEAN F. WEBB AND CLAYTON E. FREDERIQKSON, or DENVER, COLORADO; SAID FREDERICKSON ASSIGNOR TO SAlD WEBB.

' ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM.

No. 826,457. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented uly 17. 1906. Original application filed April 26, 1905, Serial No. 257,355- Divided and this application filed November 1,1906. Serial No. 285,477.

To all whom it;maycbncern.-'

Be it knownthat we, JEA'N F. WEBB and CLAYTON E. FREDERIGKSON, residing at Denver, in the county'ofDenver' and State of 5 Colorado,- have invented a new and Improved Electric Signaling System, of which .the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements .in elect in signaling :0 systems; and it particularly seeks to provide a system of this character of a simple and effective construction designed for convenintly and accurately making selective calls whereby a signal or signals may be transtor shown in Fig. '5. Fig; 7 is a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6.- Fig. 8 is a detail face view'of the indicator-dial. Fig. 9 is a detailface view of one of the circuit-closing spacing disks. Fig. 10 is a detail view of the catch member hereinafter referred to.

I eferring now to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals and letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, A "designates the main or central station, which when our invention is used as a train-signalin system may be the despatchers office. and C are substations along the line, of

ticular one of a number of stations in the same electrical circuit without interfering with the other stations.

ur invention also comprises improvesired number of substations ma be connect- 7o ed-on the line, the number of substations,

however, being only limited by the number of teeth on the rotatable circuit-closing signalin -disks used in connection with our circuit.

ach substation is provided with. a stepby-step circuit-closing mechanism D, the'circuit-closing mechanism of each station being I of the same construction, with the exception of that, D ,in' the central offi'ce. The central oflice step-by-step mechanism serves only as an indicator and not as a local circuit-closer ordinarily, though it may be when the apparatus is used on telegraph-lines.

For convenience of description we shall first describe the apparatus having the stepby-step circuit-closing mechanisms for the various stationsalong the line, and as each of the said-circuit-closing mechanisms is of the same construction as before stated a detailed description of one of them, it is thought, will suffice.

Each circuit-closing mechanism and the central office indicating mechanism comprises a supporting-frame which consists of the back plate 41 and .the front plate 40, 5 which front-plate whenever it is found desirable is constructed of transparent material, such as lass, &c., to give a clear view of 45 tion} they assume when .current is flowing the ,intern'al operating parts. The back through the disk-releasing magnets and sigplate 41 and t e front plate 40 are spaced 10o nal device of set station just prior to allowing apart by the binding-rods 42 42, as shown. the parts to be released to their normal osi- Arranged between plates 40 and 41 on 21- tion. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view 0 the spindle 26, rotatable in bearings 26 26 is a 50 complete system in the position when all the pair of disks 23 25, constructed of fiber or signal-circuits are in circuit with the main other insulating material, and the said disks or central station. Fig. 5 is an enlarged .23 25 have their peripheral surfaces. ro- 'view of the bentral-ofiice-indicator mechanvide'd each with an equal number of rate 1etism. Fig. 6 is a top plan' view of the indicateeth 24 24, respectively. The teeth 24 on graph-signals may be sent oma central station to another station and also means .whereby the central station may place all the other stations/in circuit with itself toperall the other stations at'the same time. .In its more detailed nature the invention, comprises a divisional part of our copending application filed April 25, 1905; Serial No. With other obj clots in view than have heretofore been enumerated the invention also comprises certain novel construction, com.- bination, and arrangement of parts, all of then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in'which igure. 1 is a dia ammatic view of our in- 40 vention, the parts ein in their normal po- .sition. Fig. 2 is a simi ar view showing the -positionof'the parts when station N o. 17 is in circuit with the central station. Fig; 3 is the disk 23 are arranged in one direction, while the teeth 24 of the other disk 25 are arranged in a direction opposite to that of the teeth 24 on the disk 23 for a purpose presently to appear.

Each disk 23 of the various substations is provided with a metallic contact-tooth member 46, serving as the -zero contact-tooth, and a second or individual contact tooth member 45, spaced from the contact 46 at an angular distance, which varies and is difierent for each substation-disk. (See Fig. 1.) In other words, Station No. 17 will have its contact 45 spaced from contact 46 a distance equal to seventeen (17) teeth, while station No. 19 will have its contacts 45 and 46 spaced nineteen (19) teeth apart for a purpose presently fully described.

Each'shaft 26 is provided with a radial stop-pin 27, which when the arts are in their normal position engages a iixed sto 28 on the plate 41 to limit the movement 0 the disks. Secured to the shaft 26 b a cord Or chain 30 is a counterweight 29, w ich serves to bring the disks 23 25 to their normal position at predetermined times, with the radial stop-pin 27 in engagement with the fixed stop 28, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. In practice We preferably number each tooth upon the disks 23, as shown in the drawings, each tooth corresponding to one, station along the line.

Pivotally mounted in bearin s 32 32 in the plates 40 and 41 on a spind e 33 is a metallic pawl 31, having a bifurcated extension 31*, between the extreme ends ofi which a roller 32- of insulating material is rotatably secured. The pawl 31 is adapted to engage with the teeth 24 of the disk 23 when it is released, as will be hereinafter explained.

Pivotally mounted inbearings 10 10* on a shaft or pintle 18 is an L-shaped lever 17, hereinafter called. the disk-actuating lever, which includes the arm 16 and a second arm 16 at right anglesto the arm 16*. The arm 16 has an escapement finger or tooth 16 at its free end, which when the lever 17 is rocked engages with the teeth 24 of the disk 25 to hold the disks 23 25 from moving more than one notch or step at each operation of the lever 17, and thereby serving as an escapement. 1-5 desi nates an armature carried by the arm 16 o the lever 17 to cooperate with the leveractuating magnets 14, which magnets 14 are mounted between the plates 40 and 41, as shown. 19 designates an adjustable stop for limiting the movement of the lever 17.

To the free end of the arm 16 of the lever 17 a pawl or pitman 2O lS-flllCJU'fiMh'flS at 17*, the free end of said pitman 20 being provided with a dog or tooth 21 to engage the teeth 24 of the rotatable disk 23 to rotate the disks 23 25 on their axis in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 1 when the'lever 17 is actuated. The

pitman 20 passes between, but does not touch,

the bifurcated portion 31 of the pawl 31 and when lifted is engaged by the roller 32-.

Upon its upper side the pitman 20 is provided with an angle-heel 22 to 006 erate with the lifting-catch member 39 on t e end of a lever 37, which is pivotally mounted on a pintle 38 in bearings 38 betweenthe plates 40 and 41 and above the lever 17. The lever 37 includes a downwardly-projecting angle portion 31, to the lower en of which an armature is attached.

Mounted between the plates 40 and 41 to opnrate with the armature 35 is a magnet 34, w ch operates the lever 37 and wlu'ch we shall hereinafter term the releasing-magnet to distinguish it from the magnet 14, which we shall hereinafter term the actuating-magnet. An adjustable stop 36 is provided to cooperate with the lever 37, by means of which stop the lever 37 is ad- :justed.

The catch 39 comprises a plate 39", heldat right angles to the main arm of the lever 37', to which plate 39*.the catch member is pivoted, as at 39. vided, if-found desirab .to hold the catch member 39" against the plate. 39.

Referring now to the indicator mechan ism of the despatchers office, the same is constructed substantially like the circuit-closing mechanism of the substations, with the exception that the contact members 45 and 46 are omitted from the disk 23 the centralstation indicator, and the shaft 26 of the said indicator projects through the plate 4]. and carries an indipating-dial 44, which is shown in detail in Fig. 8. Also disk 23 may be constructed of brass or other conducting mate rial, or it may be of insulating material, as shown in the drawings. The plate 41 in the A spring 39*- may be proindicating apparatus is also lengthened and described.

-By referring now to Fig. 8 of the drawings the. construction of the indicator-dial will be clearly understood. The dial 44 has its face; divided into a plurality of equal radial spaces 44*, correspondi'n X in number to spaces areprovided with numbers corresponding to those on the disk 23 and also with the names of the stations bearing such-numbers.

The disk 44 is somounted' on'the shaft 26 v -1 1 5 the number of teeth onthe dis 23, and these engaged by the pawl 31 the space onthe dial 44 containing the zero-numberw-ill be in aliii ement with the sl0t43, as clearly shown in 1 1.

In our present invention there are essentially three distinct electric circuits, although parts of each circuit are connected in common'tO avoid the necessity of running an car-- 6, the switch knives wire 11, the pushbutton 13, theactuatihgswitchcontacts -2 and throw-switch S, which cessive number The main or actuating main source of electrical energy 1, whose terminals areh through wires 2 tact-points 2 and 6,

and 6* to the conrespectiv'ely, of the switch may be either a double throw-switch, as shown, or may composed of two single switches connected to act as a double switch; The contacts 9 10 of the switch grounded through a wire 4. g a

11 designates a portion of the main-circuit wire, which connects through a push-button or other normall open circuit-closer 13 to The other termiy final subactuating-magnet 14 grounded by t e wire 11. e main circuit comprises, therefore, the source of electrical energy 1, the wires 2 and 6, the switch-points 2 and or plates 3 and 5, the

magnets 14 of the indicator mechanism, the

wire 11, line-wire L,th e wires 11 andil',

the actuating-magnets 14 of the circuitcloser mechanism at the substations, groundwires 4, and earth return. e releasing-magnets 34 are nected to the line-wire L by the and '12",

al substation is grounded through wire 12, w e the releasmg-magnet 34 of the indicator mechanism in the signal-station is connected with the switch-contact l0, throu h a wire 12. The supplemental circuit there ore comprises the source 5, ound-wires 4 and 12, switc -points 1O an 10, wire 12, releasing-magnets 34, wires and ground return. The 'switchS is common to both the main supplemental circuits, as is also the mam source of electric energy 1- and the ground return.

When our system is to be used as a signal 1 'system'for operating semaphores or bell-signals alone, then the s gnaling-circuit includes the source of electrical ener wire 12, magnet 34 of the in icator mechanism, line-wire L, shunt-wire 12, pawl- 31, contacts 45 or 46' of disk 23, and the grounded wire 12 to which'the signal 47 is plement'a'l circuit arepractically the same,

. the signaling devices (semaphore's'or bell) wire L and groun S are connected together and e actuating-magnets 14 of shunt with the signal 47, it

.receiver 50 operates w each conwires 12 'andthe releasing-magnet 34 of' the of electric energy 1,; -S 6, switch-plates 3and prior to releasing said button by the arrow-heads.

1, switch s,

connected. In this case the signaling-circuit and the supth [invention [is remaining substations will used-in connection with a telegraph system the signaling-circuit and the supplemental ave only a' portion common, and in this casewe connect thetelegr'aph receiving instrument 50 and the transmitting-kc 50 of the despatchers office directly to- -t e line- Y asupplemental source of electrical energy 4 being connected in circuit with the telegraph-receiver 50 and transmitting-key 50, as shown. I

he receiving and transmitting. .instruments 50 and 50, respectively, ofthe substations are connected in the p ace of the sig-' nals 47 when the system is usedfortelegraphing alone, or when used both as a semaphore or bell systemtand a telegraph system the instruments '50 and 50 are connected in that the magnets 34 and signals 47 areoperable under strong current from the" main source ofelectricalener ,while the'telegra hen under the wea er current from the sup lemental source of electrical energy 48. a he signals 47 and the telegraph instruments 50 and 50" may be of any approved type, as the same per se form no art of our gesent invention.

used without the no current flowing in telegraph instruments,

circuits, a nd the pawls 31, itmen any of the eu respective disks 23 and 25 and. the disks 23 and 25 in their normal or zero osition, the

main, su p'lemental, and signa ing circuits eing bro en at s'witchS, the main circuit being broken at ush-button 13, and the signaling-circuit bro en at disks 23. The operator throws switch S into engagement with contacts 9 9" to close the main circuit at switch He then closes circuit at ush-button 1 3 as many times as the number 0? called sayseventeen. As he pushes the button' the seventeenth (17th) time and just will be the position shown in Fig. 2, current flowing in the'main circuit as, indicated causes current from e main source of electrical energy to flow through the supplemental circuit and signaling-circuit to energize the releasing-magnets 34 and operatethe signal 47 at the connected station, (in this case station No. 17,)it being understood that the signals 47 at the not operate at this being understood the station to be 13 the parts '-gaged their respective heels 22. As soon as I signaling 0f electrical energy time, as the signaling-circuits at all stations excepting the one connected up (No. 1'1) are broken at the contact-carrying disks 23.

The parts are now in a osition shown in Fig. 3, the catches 39 of a 1 stations having enthe operator breaks thecircuit at switch S the armatures 35 and 15 will cause their res ective :levers to s owninFi .1 ,the levers 37 liftingthepitmen 20 clear of disks 23.

*29to return disks to the normal position,--as shown in Fig. 1. When our invention is used in connection with t'elegra hs', the switch Sis momentarily closed to re ease the pitmen 29 from the latch 39, so that they will move-to the position shown in Fig. 4, so that the pawls 31 will en go the respective disks at their zero-marl n 'The parts will be then in the position shownin' Fig. 4 prior tothrowing the switch to close circuit to pass current through magnets 34. While all the awls are in contact with'the zero-contacts ofallthe disks 23, the. central station can then sign derstood that normall substations are close as shown, so that when the central station desires to receive answer from the substations the operator-at the central station closes his key 50, while theoperator at the substation opens his key '50 in;the usual manner. Now should the despatcher desire to communicate with. one particular station only he closes switch-S to contacts 9 9 and operates push-button 13 the keys 50 at the until the desired station is in connection with central station. He then opens switch S and again proceeds to telegraph, as before. After he has completed his communication with such station the operator throws switch S to the position'shownin Fig. 3 to return the parts to the position shown in Fig. 1. This cuts out all stations. The operator. may then place all stations in communication with central office by throwing switch S in the position shown in Fig. 2 and pushing button 13 once, which releases pitmen 20 and pawls 31 to engage disks 23. The operator then again opens switch S, and the parts will then be in the position shown inFig. 4, with the exception that the magnets 34 will not be energized and the levers 37 will be in the position shown in Fig. 1. This is the normal position of the parts when our invention is used as a combined semaphore signaling and telegraphic system.

In practice the source of electrical energy 48 may be made to send currents in a direction-reverse'to that sent by the main source 1, and polarized teleaphic-receiving instruments may be used to prevent them from being operated u on by the current of the main source of e coreturn to the position The pitmen 20 in turn' lift pawls. 31 clear of disks 23 to allow Weights al all of the substations, it being untrical energy when switch S is closed tooperate releasing-magnets 34.

While we have shown the actuating-magnets 14 of each station connected in series withone another and while we have shown the reIeaSing ma nets 34 of each station likewise connects yet we desi it understood that we do not limit ourse vesto such manner of connecting the magnets, as the several sets of. magnets may be connected in any other well-known manner in the electrical art and as conditions mayrequire.

a By using our system in connection with the telegra hic communications it will be seen that w enall stations are to be communicated with the signa s or messages are sent through metallic contacts numbered 0 and-the disks 23 are not moved. This point is of particular advantage where a number,-large or small, of parties-say of brokers-areon the same telegraph-line, as it will enable the-central ofiice to send or-receive guotationsor other messages from-all genera ly or'by moving the disks 23 to send or receive messages to some particular one for the time being,so that in realityeach arty will have a direct undivided line for his individual use whenever he desires it.

From the fore oing description, taken in connection with t e accompanying drawings, it is thought the complete operation, con- 1 struction, and dvantages of our invention will be readil understood by those skilled in the art to w 'ch it appertains, and we desire it understood that slight changes in the detailed construction, operation, and arrangement of parts may bemade without departing "from the scope of the appended claims. I

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters'Patent, is

1. In a selective signalingsystem, amain circuit, a supplementalcircuit, and*a telegraphic circuit, a switch common to both the main and the sup lemental circuits, a main source of electrica ener y common to both the main and the supp emental circuits, a

circuit-closer in the main .circuit, a step-bystep circuit-closing member connected in the supplemental circuit, a main signal in the supplemental circuit and telegraphic signaling apparatus in the telegraphic c rcuit, a secondary source of electrical energy in the telegraphic circuit, means connected in the main circuit for operating said step-by-step circuit-closing member, means for releasing said step-by-step member from connection with the step-by-step operating means, all being arranged substantially as-shown and described. g

2. In a selectivesignaling systemfa main circuit, a supplemental circuit, and. a telei graphic-signaling'circuit, a switch common to both the-main and the supplementalcirto both circuits, and signals at each substacuits,a main source of electrical energy c0mtion connected each mon to both the main and supplemental cirtive step-by-step it-closer in the main circuit, a l

;c1' rcuitclosing member consignaling-circuit and to the supa main signal and a tele- 1n the by-step in the emental' mechamsm, each of said operable by the current from the supp emental circuit when its step-by-step c1rcuit-closin anism cl connected with a portion circuit, a suppl energy in ci naling devices of all suppl signal operable on'l Y main source of electr calener y when said supplemental circuit 18 closeda plurality tep mechanisms, each including -step circuit-closer disk and a plu gy common to pplemental circuits, in the main circuit, a step-by step circuit-closer connected in the signalin circuit and toithe supplemental circuit, a main signal and a telegraphic-signaling appa ratus in -th operating said step-by-step circuit-closing means in the supplemental circuit for releasing'said step-by -step operating means, said signal operable by the main source of hown and described. 7 n a selective signaling system, a mainstation and a plurality of substations, a main and a supplemental circuit connecting all of said stations, a step'bystep indicator anism in the mainstation, a step cuit-closing actuating means at each station, for each step-hy-step s connected in the telegraphi means being te egraphic instrument 0- a switch and a source of at the main station common members one Ice v with said disk contacts, means controlled 2o member, and a supplemental source of elecmechanism to tal circuit in series with the signal and circuit station and a plurality of su stations, a main mental circuit, and a supplemental source of electrical energy for said telegraphiccircuit,

and a supplemental signal for each step-bymechanism com electric energy, a

main or the supplemental circuits, a circuitclosing member comprising a contact-carrying disk, a'pair of contacts carried by said disk, asupplemental contact for cooperatipg Y the main circuit for operating the circuitclosing member, a signal in one of said circuits, said circuit-closer being connected in series with the signal in thesupplemental circuit, means connected in the supplemenclosing member for normally rendering said circuit-closer-operating means inoperative, and supplemental signaling devices connected in multiple with the said first-named signal and in series with the supplemental closing tric energy for said supplemental signaling devices allbeing arranged substantially as shown .and described.

8. Ina selective'signalin system, a main and a supplemental circuit connecting all of said stations, a step-by -step indicator mechanism in the main station, a step-by-step circuit-closing mechanism at each substation, actuating means for each step-by-step mechanism, and connected with said main circuit, a series of mechanism at each station for releasing each actuating means, and cooperatively connected in said supplemental circuit, means for returning said step-bys-tep their normal positions when released, a switch and a source of electrical station, common toboth energy at the main each substation connectcircuits, a signal at ed each in series with its respective step-bystep circuit-closing mechanism and in circuit with its respective releasing mechanism, a current-interrupter in the main circuit at the main station, and supplemental telegraph instruments in the signaling-circuit at eac station, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a select station and a plurality of substations, a mam and a supplemental circuit connecting all of said stations and a signaling-circuit, a stepby-step indicator mechanism in the main station, a step-by-step circuit-closing mechanism at each substation, actuating means at each station for each step-by-step mechanism, all of said actuating means being operatively connected with said-main circuit, a releasing mechanism at each station for each actuating means, said releasing mechanism all being cooperatively connected in said supplemental circuit to release the actuating means from the step-by-step mechanism at times, means for returning said s'tep-by-step mechanism to their normal positions when released, a switch and a source of electrical energy at the main station common to both circuits, and signals at each substationconnected eachin series with its respective stepby-step circuit-closing mechanism and in circuit withits releasin mechanism, each said signals operable by t lhe current from the supplemental circuit when its step-by-step closing mechanism closes its circuit, a currentinterrupter in the main circuit at the main station, a supple-mental telegraph instrument in the signaling-circuit at each station, substantially as shown and described.

JEAN F. WEBB. CLAYTON E. FREDERICK-SON.

Witnesses as, to Jean F. Webb D. EDGAR Wmson, LAFAYETTE F. CRAwFonn. Witnesses as to Clayton E. Frederickson.

D. EDGAR. WILSON, 'EDWARD L. SHANNON ve signaling system, a main 

